joy of reading
Libraries Of The Lehigh Valley, PA
StandardI began this series several years ago, but I must have forgotten about it. Now, however, I intend to continue and share the wonderful libraries that exist with this section of Eastern Pennsylvania.
The Easton Public Library, located in the small city of Easton, PA, is a place that I loved as a youngster. I have been an avid reader since I was a small child, and this wonderful place gave me much solace and pleasure. When I was very small, we went to a branch library on South Side, Easton, and when I hit young teen years, I would walk the couple of miles to go to the library. It was worth every step.
Easton has about 25,000-27,000 people and is located on the banks of both the Delaware and the Lehigh Rivers, and it is the smallest of the cities that make up the majority of the Lehigh Valley, PA. It is in this small urban area that the Easton Public Library sits and serves a wide group of readers.
After many years, I recently visited this library with a friend who was doing research, and I was filled with both nostalgia and joy upon entering. It was hard to believe that I had not been into this place, where I had visited almost weekly for several years. I loved the visit, and while I do not know if You Can’t Go Home Again as suggested in the book by Thomas Wolfe, but I do know that you can return to libraries that you have loved!
I want to thank Sharon Gothard, a wonderful librarian, for her help with these images of the library, including pictures from both the present and the past.
Thank you for joining me in this journey to a place that was deeply important to me as a young person. I will continue the series soon with another library from this area.
Happy New Year–2023!
Standard(Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com)
As this year is approaching its end, I have been thinking about what I am thankful for. I am deeply grateful for my family, including the extended one, and my friends. Additionally, I am extremely grateful for are my readers on this blog. You are a disparate group, but you are also unfailingly intelligent, kind, and civil. I have also made several friendships here with people who live far away, and I value those connections.
To all my blog followers:
Thank you!
Charles F. French
(Photo by Giftpundits.com on Pexels.com)
And I wish everyone a healthy and happy 2023!
Happy New Year!
(Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com)
December Self-Promotion Party
StandardIt is now almost Winter, and it is time once again for a book promotion party!
I want to offer an opportunity for all writers who follow this blog to share information on their books. It can be very difficult to generate publicity for our writing, so I thought this little effort might help. All books may be mentioned, and there is no restriction on genre. This encompasses fiction, poetry, plays, and non-fiction. If I have neglected to mention a genre, please consider it to be included.
To participate, simply give your name, your book, information about it, and where to purchase it in the comments section. Then please be willing to reblog and/or tweet this post. The more people that see it, the more publicity we can generate for everyone’s books. I will continue to do these parties every few weeks.
Thank you for participating!
Promote your books!
Spread the word!
Keep on writing!

(www.pixabay.com)

Available on Amazon

Get The Draft Done! is available here: Amazon.com

Gallows Hill can be found here in ebook.
Gallows Hill in paperback can be found here.
An interview about Gallows Hill can be found here.

Please follow the following links to find my novel:
My radio interview:


More Quotations On Books!
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“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”
Marcus Tullius Cicero
“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”
Jorge Luis Borges
“Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn’t carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.”
Stephen King
“Books are the food and drink for the human soul.”
Charles F. French
The October Promote Your Book Party!
StandardIt’s well into October, and it is a perfect time for a Spooky Book promotion party!
So, don’t be shy, and be your own best publicist!
Promote
Your
Book(s)!
Be proud of your writing!
Let the world know about your book(s)!
Shout to the world about your writing!
Tell us about your book(s), and leave an image and a link if you can.
In order for as many people to see your work as possible,
please Tweet and reblog this post!
Here is my self-promotion: my latest book can help writers who have issues issues with finishing first drafts of their books. If that is you, I offer direct, practical advice on how to
Get The Draft Done! Helping Writers Finish Their First Draft
by Charles F. French.

Get The Draft Done! is available here: Amazon.com

Gallows Hill can be found here in ebook.
Gallows Hill in paperback can be found here.
An interview about Gallows Hill can be found here.

Please follow the following links to find my novel:
Thank you!
My radio interview:

Available on Amazon
Happy National Book Lovers Day!
StandardToday is a wonderful day–National Book Lovers Day!
Let us all embrace the joy of books!
Celebrate by reading a book today!
June Self-Promotion Party!
Standard(www.pixabay.com)
Hello everyone! It’s now mid-June, the weather is warmer, and it’s time for a self-promotion party!
Don’t be shy; tell us about your books!
Be proud of your writing!
Share your book(s) with the world!
Be your own best publicist!
To help as many as possible see your work, reblog, like, and follow others.

Available on Amazon

Get The Draft Done! is available here: Amazon.com

Gallows Hill can be found here in ebook.
Gallows Hill in paperback can be found here.
An interview about Gallows Hill can be found here.

Please follow the following links to find my novel:
My radio interview:


A Review of Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society, Book 1 by Charles F. French
StandardReviewed in the United States on January 4, 2022
Before we meet Sam, Jeremy, and Roosevelt, the novel opens in ancient Rome with the introduction of one Lucius Antony Caius, a trusted advisor and procuror for the Emperor Caligula. For his own treachery, debauchery, and torture of innocents, he is known as Maledicus. He will become the evil entity with whom the Investigative Paranormal Society must do battle. And an evil one he is!
My favorite parts of the novel were the scenes set in ancient Rome with Maledicus. Anyone who thinks he could be a match for the evil (and insane) Emperor Caligula immediately has my attention. In addition, these scenes were well-researched and executed (pardon the pun).
I was surprised that Caligula dispatched Maledicus so quickly–although I probably shouldn’t have been, given Caligula’s reputation. However, I would like to have spent a bit more time with Maledicus in his earthly incarnation before he was sent howling into the netherworld.
The Investigative Paranormal Society are brought in when Maledicus sets his sights on the five-year-old niece of a local teacher. He proves an intractable enemy for Sam, Jeremy, and Roosevelt, as well as the people they enlist in their fight. In fact, there were several times I was genuinely shocked by what Maledicus did, which for me was one of the biggest strengths of the novel. Although shocking, the horror was not gratuitous or stomach-churning.
I would recommend Maledicus to readers who enjoy horror, the paranormal, and the question of the difference between an evil person and an evil spirit–which I found a fascinating one as I read the novel. If a person can be truly evil, how can this evil outlive its corporeal existence?
Thank you to Elizabeth Gauffreau!
Please be sure to visit her site: lizgauffreau.com

Available on Amazon

Get The Draft Done! is available here: Amazon.com

Gallows Hill can be found here in ebook.
Gallows Hill in paperback can be found here.
An interview about Gallows Hill can be found here.

Please follow the following links to find my novel:
Thank you!
My radio interview:


Quotations on Fantasy and Imagination
Standard(www.pixabay.com)
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
Albert Einstein
(By Source: Scan of photograph by Arthur Strong, Wikipedia)
“One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again.”
C. S. Lewis
(www.wikipedia.com)